Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Free Riders and Societies Cracks

The socialists (and social welfare democrats) are deathly afraid that someone somewhere will fall through the cracks. The problem is, when you expand the powers of governments to try to take care of people, you just make the cracks bigger, and trap more people.

The conservatives are deathly afraid that someone will get a free ride, that someone will benefit who does not "deserve" to. the problem is, when you expand the powers of govenrments to try to prevent folks from getting a free ride, you raise the cost of doing business, thus encouraging people to take the easy way.

There will ALWAYS be those who fall through the cracksThere will ALWAYS be those who get a free ride.

A libertarian understands that a free society, based upon the capitalistic principle of mutual exchange for mutual benefit, is the most effective way to reduce both problems.